Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  Tahoes are awesome - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tahoe Boy - September 15 - 9:04 pm

  Have been wanting a Tahoe for at least the last 7 years and finally was able to get one. I love to drive this vehicle. The seats are supportive and comfortable. It looks great. Drives smooth and effortlessly. Has enough room for people and / or stuff. The doors feel solid and tight.

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  I love my Av! - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By GAUTHIERTROY - September 15 - 4:48 pm

  Love it! Drove on a family vacation 7,000 miles. It was great. The only drawback is the gas mileage. If you use your luggage rack, it will drink extra gas. It rides heavy on the highway and handles well in the mountains. I dont regret one thing about this purchase except me and my wife fighting to see who gets to drive it.

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  Love my Trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Kar - September 15 - 4:28 pm

  I bought my Trailblazer 2nd hand. I worked at a small private dealership that specialized in used trucks and SUVs. My boss got it from a Chevy dealership. It only had 1 previous owner and it had 55,000mi on it when I bought it. I havent had to do much except maintenance. I have 70,000mi on it now. I expect problems to arise after 60,000mi. I had a Chevy S10 pickup and it had to have things replaced when it hit around 50,000. I hope to have it for a while. It is excellent in the snow and rain. My pickup truck was great too but it would hydroplane bad in rain. The Trailblazer handles well all around. It is an SUV, not a sportscar. I am very happy with my Trailblazer.

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  Dont read the Professionals - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Nolan - September 15 - 11:35 am

  Dont read the professional reviewers articles about this truck. They said the power of the 5cyl was only adequate. So on the test drive I gave it a little extra gas. It squealed the rear tires out of the dealership! I takes off faster than my old F150 with a V8. Tons of room inside make you feel like you are in a much bigger truck. The Z71 suspension rides great. Its not harsh at all. After more than 15 years of Fords I have switched.

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  mikep - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By map80128 - September 15 - 10:00 am

  I originally bought the car because it had third row seating. But its too small to go on driving vacations - not enough storage space and back seat space. Also a bit wierd is the way the second and third row seating lays down to form a "flat" serface. Its almost like GM made this car into and extended version at the last minute. This car is too small to be a big SUV and too big to be a smaller SUV.

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  Avalanche-best by far - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By SEEFUS - September 15 - 10:00 am

  This truck has by far the best ride and comfort of any I have owned. It pulls great and gets acceptable mpg. Houling stuff in an enclosed and dry area has been great.Every one loves the way it looks, drives and does its job.I have compared it to the 04 fords and its just that much better in every day driving its no contest.

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  Cant Go Wrong - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Sodajerk - September 15 - 10:00 am

  This is the pickup I always wanted, and now I have it. It rides smooth, has plenty of features, and runs great.

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  I bought used and still love it. - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By mathenas - September 15 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my z71 for only one month but from the first moment of driving it I realized this is the best riding and driving ever experienced.

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  Work truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By 2004silerado - September 15 - 10:00 am

  I bought the basic truck no options and got a great rebate of 4000 off sticker.

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  06 Cobalt - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Doug - September 15 - 7:43 am

  I am impressed with the quiet ride of this car. I own 2 other Chevrolets and this one is the best riding car of them all. It is very solid and for a car in this price range, I am impressed. I bought it for fuel economy, and on my first long trip of about 500 miles, got over 32 mpg. I bought the stick shift and it is smooth and fun to drive.